U.S. patent number 11,444,390 [Application Number 16/957,175] was granted by the patent office on 2022-09-13 for near-field communication and ultra high frequency device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH. The grantee listed for this patent is Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH. Invention is credited to Rachid Benbouhout.
United States Patent |
11,444,390 |
Benbouhout |
September 13, 2022 |
Near-field communication and ultra high frequency device
Abstract
A device for near-field and ultra-high-frequency communication,
the device includes a near-field-communication antenna, an
ultra-high-frequency antenna, a control unit including a controller
for controlling the ultra-high-frequency antenna and a controller
for controlling the near-field-communication antenna, a first
carrier on which the NFC antenna is located, a second carrier on
which the control unit is located, the first carrier and second
carrier being located one above the other and connected by
mechanical support pins, it is proposed that the
ultra-high-frequency antenna be located on the first carrier and be
connected to the control unit via: a first connection located on
the first carrier, at least one pin made of conductive metal, and a
second connection located on the second carrier, so as to produce a
bidirectional ultra-high-frequency antenna.
Inventors: |
Benbouhout; Rachid (Cugnaux,
FR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Continental Automotive France
Continental Automotive GmbH |
Toulouse
Hannover |
N/A
N/A |
FR
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE
(Toulouse, FR)
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH (Hannover, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006558828 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/957,175 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2019 |
PCT
Filed: |
January 18, 2019 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/FR2019/050110 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
June 23, 2020 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2019/145625 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
August 01, 2019 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200335883 A1 |
Oct 22, 2020 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 29, 2018 [FR] |
|
|
1850674 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q
1/2291 (20130101); H01Q 1/38 (20130101); H01Q
21/28 (20130101); H01Q 7/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01Q
1/22 (20060101); H01Q 1/38 (20060101); H01Q
21/28 (20060101); H01Q 7/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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204333283 |
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204596946 |
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Aug 2015 |
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105375106 |
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Mar 2016 |
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205451141 |
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105940554 |
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106537687 |
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2421089 |
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3203581 |
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EP |
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WO |
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2017188628 |
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Nov 2017 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Intemational Search Report and Written Opinion for International
Application No. PCT/FR2019/050110, dated May 7, 2019, with partial
translation, 11 pages. cited by applicant .
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International
Application No. PCT/FR2019/050110, dated May 7, 2019, 15 pages
(French). cited by applicant .
Cheng, H. et al., "UHF Near-Field Radio Frequency Identification
Reader Antenna Based on Segmented Electric Large-Size Dipole", Aug.
5, 2017, 12 pages, Nanjing University of Science and Technology,
Nanjing, 210094 (with English translation). cited by applicant
.
Chinese Office Action for Chinese Application No. 201980010428.5,
dated Apr. 1, 2021, with translation, 14 pages. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Tran; Hai V
Assistant Examiner: Bouizza; Michael M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: RatnerPrestia
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A device for near-field and ultra-high-frequency communication,
the device comprising: an NEC near-field-communication antenna, a
BLE ultra-high-frequency (UHF) antenna, a control unit comprising
control means for controlling the ultra-high-frequency antenna and
control means for controlling the near-field-communication antenna,
a first carrier on which the NFC antenna is located, a second
carrier on which the control unit is located, the first carrier and
second carrier being located one above the other and connected by
mechanical support pins, wherein the BLE UHF antenna is located on
the first carrier and is connected to the control unit via: a first
connection located on the first carrier, the first connection
connecting the BLE UHF antenna to a mechanical support pin of the
mechanical support pins, the mechanical support pin made of
conductive metal, the mechanical support pin being perpendicular to
the first carrier and the second carrier, and a second connection
located on the second carrier, the second connection connecting the
mechanical support pin to the control unit, wherein a first
connection length of the first connection, and a second connection
length of the second connection, a pin length of the mechanical
support pin, and an antenna length of the BLE UHF antenna are
designed such that the combined structure of the BLE UHF antenna,
the first connection, the mechanical support pin, and the second
connection has a total length to form a bidirectional BLE UHF
antenna emitting an electromagnetic field at the same operating
frequency as said BLE UHF antenna and having two components, a
first component perpendicular to the first carrier and a second
component which is parallel to the first carrier.
2. The device as claimed claim 1, wherein a total length of the
bidirectional ultra-high-frequency antenna is equal to:
L.sub.TOT=L+H1+Lc2+Lc1 and is between: .lamda..lamda. ##EQU00004##
where: L.sub.TOT: total length of the bidirectional antenna, H1:
height of the mechanical support pin, .lamda.: ultra-high-frequency
wavelength, Lc1: length of the first connection, Lc2: length of the
second connection, L: length of the ultra-high-frequency
antenna.
3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first connection
and the second connection consist of vias, and the total length of
the bidirectional antenna is equal to: L.sub.TOT=L+H1 where: H1:
height of the mechanical support pin, .lamda.: ultra-high-frequency
wavelength, L: length of the ultra-high-frequency antenna.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connection
and the second connection consist of vias, and that the total
length of the bidirectional antenna is equal to: L.sub.TOT=L+H1
where: H1: height of the mechanical support pin, .lamda.:
ultra-high-frequency wavelength, L: length of the
ultra-high-frequency antenna.
5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
ultra-high-frequency antenna is integrated into the
near-field-communication antenna and is connected on both sides to
the near-field-communication antenna by the frequency-filtering
means.
6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the filtering means
comprises an inductor and/or a capacitor.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
near-field-communication antenna, and the ultra-high-frequency
antenna are connected to the control unit by a common pin, and by a
first and a second common via (v1', v2') and in that the device
further comprises frequency-filtering means.
8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the filtering means
comprises an inductor and/or a capacitor.
9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
ultra-high-frequency antenna is integrated into the
near-field-communication antenna and is connected on both sides to
the near-field-communication antenna by the frequency-filtering
means.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first carrier
and/or the second carrier consist of printed circuit boards.
11. A portable user apparatus comprising a communication device as
claimed in claim 1.
12. An inductive charger for a portable user apparatus comprising a
communication device as claimed in claim 1.
13. A motor vehicle comprising a communication device as claimed in
claim 1.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is the U.S. National Phase Application of PCT
International Application No. PCT/FR2019/050110, filed Jan. 18,
2019, which claims priority to French Patent Application No.
1850674, filed Jan. 29, 2018, the contents of such applications
being incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device for near-field and
ultra-high-frequency communication with a portable user
apparatus.
More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention applies to
inductive chargers for portable devices, for installation in a
motor vehicle and including a near-field-communication device in
order to communicate with a portable apparatus once said apparatus
has been placed on the receiving surface of the inductive charger,
and also including an ultra-high-frequency, i.e. far-field,
communication device, for example a Bluetooth.RTM. or BLE.RTM.
("Bluetooth Low Energy") device, in order to communicate with the
portable apparatus even when it is located outside the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
What is understood by near-field communication is a communication
at a frequency of around 13.56 MHz. What is understood by far-field
communication is a communication at a frequency of around 2.4 GHz
for BLE.RTM., or between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz for Wi-Fi.RTM..
The inductive charger in the latter case, when it is equipped with
means for far-field communication, such as BLE.RTM., may then
function as a transceiver for a "hands-free" system for access to
the vehicle and authorize access to the vehicle and/or startup of
the vehicle for any user carrying/wearing the portable apparatus,
smartphone or badge, previously authenticated by the vehicle, with
them.
Magnetic-coupling charging devices allowing wireless charging of
portable apparatuses (cellphones, laptops, touchscreen tablets,
digital cameras, etc.) are currently experiencing significant
growth.
Conventionally, a magnetic-coupling charging device includes a
conductor coil, referred to as the "primary antenna", which is
connected to a charging module. During charging of a mobile
apparatus, the charging module forms a charging signal that makes
it possible to channel an electric current, the intensity of which
varies over time, through the primary antenna. The primary antenna
that is thus supplied forms a variable magnetic field.
The portable apparatus includes a receiver module including a
conductor coil, referred to as the "secondary antenna". When said
secondary antenna is placed within the variable magnetic field
formed by the primary antenna, an electric current is induced in
said secondary antenna. This electric current makes it possible to
charge an electrical storage battery connected to the secondary
antenna, thus supplying current to the portable apparatus.
It is known practice to place one's portable apparatus on a
charging device so as to charge the portable apparatus through
induction, and so that it communicates at the same time as or after
the charging period by near-field communication (NFC) with the
electronic system on board the vehicle. This short-distance
wireless communication (generally about a few millimeters) makes it
possible, among other things, for the vehicle to download a
particular user profile contained in the portable apparatus and
thus to adjust elements of the vehicle according to this profile,
for example to adjust the position of the driver seat in the
vehicle, to program favorite radio stations, to modify the
appearance of the instrument panel or to activate the "E-call"
(emergency-call) function, etc.
To this end and as is known, these charging devices comprise a
dedicated radiofrequency antenna for inductive charging, referred
to as the charging antenna, which is a WPC (Wireless Power
Consortium) antenna, i.e. a wireless inductive charging antenna in
accordance with the standards of this consortium, allowing
inductive charging at frequencies ranging from 100 to 200 kHz, as
well as another antenna of higher frequency, generally around 13.56
MHz, that is dedicated to this near-field communication. It may
also be any other radiofrequency antenna allowing communication by
short-distance coupling between the portable apparatus and the
charging device that is connected to the electronic system on board
the vehicle.
As is known, the primary WPC charging antenna is centered in the
middle of the charging device in order to be aligned with respect
to the secondary antenna of the portable apparatus, which is itself
also generally located in the center of said apparatus. The NFC
antenna is generally arranged around the WPC antenna all the way
around the periphery of the charging device. Similarly, the NFC
antenna of the portable apparatus is also located around the
periphery of the back face of the portable apparatus and is
therefore located facing the NFC antenna of the charging device
when the portable apparatus is placed on the charging device, which
allows effective NFC communication.
In this charging device equipped with a WPC charging antenna and an
NFC communication antenna, the integration of an additional
antenna, in this case an ultra-high-frequency (UHF) antenna, for
example a BLE antenna, presents several problems. In this case, the
problem is one of positioning the BLE antenna, since the space
allocated in the charging device is generally limited.
It is therefore preferable to arrange the three antennas on two
different carriers in the charging device, the two said carriers
preferably being located facing one another.
This is illustrated in FIG. 1.
On a first carrier, which is a printed circuit board PCB1, located
beneath the receiving surface S (not shown) of the charging device
D, there is: the NFC communication antenna A2 and the WPC charging
antenna A1.
On a second carrier, which is a printed circuit board PCB2, located
beneath the first carrier PCB1 (relative to the receiving surface
S) and facing same, there is: the means for controlling the NFC
communication antenna and the means for controlling the WPC
charging antenna, as well as the UHF communication antenna A3 and
the means for controlling said antenna.
The various control means for said antennas may be grouped together
in a control unit M1 integrated into a microcontroller.
The control means for the NFC communication antenna located on the
second printed circuit board PCB2 are connected to said NFC antenna
A2 located on the first printed circuit board PCB1 by wired
connections J.
Similarly, the control means for the WPC charging antenna A1
located on the second printed circuit board PCB2 are connected to
said WPC antenna A1 located on the first printed circuit board PCB1
by wired connections (not shown in FIG. 1).
The UHF communication antenna A3, in the form of a "wire" antenna,
is, for its part, connected to the control means M1 by at least one
connection T1 located on the second carrier PCB2.
However, the integration of the UHF antenna A3 on the second PCB2
carrier presents other problems: specifically, since several
regions on the second printed circuit board PCB2 must be free of
all components in order to maintain an acceptable level of
mechanical strength, the space left for the UHF antenna A3 is
therefore limited, and the presence of power electronics in the
control unit M1 requires the presence of electromagnetic shielding
elements in order to meet EMC (electromagnetic compatibility)
requirements, and these electromagnetic shielding elements
interfere with the operation of the UHF antenna A3, located nearby,
on the same plane.
The remaining space available on the second carrier PCB2 for the
UHF antenna A3 is therefore often very limited. The size of the UHF
antenna A3 is then small in comparison with an optimal size, which
does not allow effective operation of said antenna and effective
BLE communication performance. In addition, since the UHF antenna
A3 is located far from the receiving surface S, the electromagnetic
radiation from the UHF antenna A3 perceived by the portable
apparatus, whether located on the receiving surface S or not, is
greatly decreased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore desirable to improve the performance of the UHF
communication antenna A3 when said antenna is integrated into a
device which does not have enough space for the integration
thereof, whether it be a charging device comprising a WPC charging
antenna and an NFC antenna or be a near-field-communication device
that does not have enough space for the integration of a UHF
antenna.
To this end, an aspect of the invention provides a device for
near-field and ultra-high-frequency communication, the device
comprising: an NFC near-field-communication antenna, a BLE
ultra-high-frequency antenna, a control unit comprising control
means for controlling the ultra-high-frequency antenna and control
means for controlling the near-field-communication antenna, a first
carrier on which the NFC antenna is located, a second carrier on
which the control unit is located, the first carrier and second
carrier being located one above the other and connected by
mechanical support pins, the device being noteworthy in that the
ultra-high-frequency antenna is located on the first carrier and is
connected to the control unit via: a first connection located on
the first carrier, at least one pin made of conductive metal, and a
second connection located on the second carrier, so as to produce a
bidirectional ultra-high-frequency antenna.
Judiciously, a total length of the ultra-high frequency
bidirectional antenna is equal to: L.sub.TOT=L+H1+Lc2+Lc1 and is
between:
.times..times..lamda..times..lamda. ##EQU00001## where: L.sub.TOT:
total length of the bidirectional antenna, H1: height of the pin,
.lamda.: ultra-high-frequency wavelength, Lc1: length of the first
connection, Lc2: length of the second connection, L: length of the
ultra-high-frequency antenna.
Advantageously, the first connection and the second connection
consist of vias, and the total length of the bidirectional antenna
is equal to: L.sub.TOT=L+H1 H1: height of the pin, .lamda.:
ultra-high-frequency wavelength, L: length of the
ultra-high-frequency antenna.
In one particular embodiment, the near-field-communication antenna
and the ultra-high-frequency antenna are connected to the control
unit by a common pin and by a first and a second common via, and
the device further comprises frequency-filtering means.
In another particular embodiment, the ultra-high-frequency antenna
is integrated into the near-field-communication antenna and is
connected on both sides to the near-field-communication antenna by
the frequency-filtering means.
The filtering means consist, for example, of an inductor and/or a
capacitor.
Additionally, the first carrier and/or the second carrier consist
of printed circuit boards.
An aspect of the invention also applies to any portable user
apparatus, to any inductive charger for a portable user apparatus,
or to any motor vehicle comprising a communication device according
to any of the features presented above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other aims, features and advantages of aspects of the invention
will become apparent on reading the following description, provided
by way of non-limiting example, and on examining the appended
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a near-field and ultra-high-frequency communication
device D according to the prior art, and described above,
FIG. 2A shows a near-field and ultra-high-frequency communication
device D' according to a first embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 2B shows the bidirectional UHF antenna A30' comprising a first
UHF antenna portion A3', the first connection c1 on the first
carrier PCB1, the pin I' and the second connection c2 on the second
carrier PCB2, v FIG. 3 shows a near-field and ultra-high-frequency
communication device D'' according to a second embodiment of the
invention,
FIG. 4 shows a near-field and ultra-high-frequency communication
device D''' according to a third embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 5 schematically shows the control unit M1'' according to the
second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3,
FIG. 6 schematically shows the control unit M1''' according to the
third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The near-field and ultra-high-frequency communication device D'
according to an aspect of the invention is shown in FIGS. 2A to
6.
In FIG. 2A, the communication device D' comprises a WPC charging
antenna A1, with the assumption that the communication device D' is
integrated for example into an inductive charger (not shown) for a
portable apparatus.
However, an aspect of the invention applies to any communication
device comprising at least one near-field-communication antenna,
which will be referred to as NFC antenna A2', and an
ultra-high-frequency communication antenna, which will be referred
to as UHF antenna A3', which is a BLE antenna, whether the
communication device is integrated into an inductive charger or
not, and having difficulty with integrating the UHF antenna A3' due
to a lack of space.
In this case, an aspect of the invention also applies to a portable
user apparatus comprising at least one near-field-communication
antenna A2' and an ultra-high-frequency communication antenna.
What is understood by NFC antenna A2' is any antenna allowing
near-field communication at a frequency of around 13.56 MHz.
The device D' also comprises a UHF antenna A3' transmitting at a
second communication frequency, for example at the BLE (Bluetooth
Low Energy.RTM.) frequency of 2.4 GHz.
In FIG. 2A, the NFC antenna A2' of the communication device D' is
located on the periphery of a first carrier, for example on the
periphery of a first printed circuit board PCB1'.
Also located on the first carrier PCB1', at the center thereof, is
the WPC charging antenna A1.
In the example of an inductive charger, the first carrier PCB1' is
located beneath the receiving surface S, on which the user places
their portable apparatus in order to charge it through induction
via the WPC charging antenna A1.
The device D' also comprises a second carrier, for example a second
printed circuit board PCB2' located below the first printed circuit
board PCB1' relative to the charging surface S, and on which there
is a control unit M1' for controlling said three antennas A1, A2,
A3'.
The two carriers PCB1', PCB2' are located one above the other,
preferably, but not exclusively, facing each other, and are
connected to each other by pins I which are located, for example,
and without this being limiting, at the four corners of the two
said carriers PCB1', PCB2' (see FIG. 1). Said pins I allow the two
carriers PCB1', PCB2' to be mutually mechanically supported and are
for example plastic rods.
What is understood by control unit M1' for controlling said three
antennas is for example a microcontroller further comprising:
control means M2 for controlling the NFC antenna A2', further
comprising: a data transceiver 10 at NFC frequency, connected to
impedance matching means 20, NFC transceiving control means (not
shown), control means M3 (not shown) for controlling the WPC
inductive charging antenna A1, further comprising: charging control
means, a charging data transceiver, connected to impedance-matching
means, control means M4 for controlling the ultra-high-frequency
(UHF) antenna A3', further comprising: an ultra-high-frequency data
transceiver 30, connected to impedance-matching means 40, means for
controlling BLE transceiving (not shown).
The control means M2, M3 and M4 for said three antennas A2', A1,
A3' are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described
in further detail here.
Preferably, said control means M2, M3, M4 are in the form of
software and electronic components, held in the control unit M1',
i.e. in a microcontroller.
The NFC antenna A2' and the WPC charging antenna A2 are for example
respectively connected to their respective control means M2, M3 by
wired connections J (see FIG. 2A).
As explained above, the integration of an additional antenna, in
this case a UHF antenna A3', is difficult due to the lack of space,
whether on the first or on the second carrier PCB1', PCB2'.
Unlike the prior art, an aspect of the invention proposes that the
UHF antenna A3' be located on the first carrier PCB1' and said UHF
antenna A3' be connected to the control means M4 (i.e. to the
control unit M1') located on the second carrier PCB2' via two
connections v1, v2 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) and a pin I' made of
conductive metal.
The UHF antenna A3' is therefore connected to the control unit M1'
by (see FIG. 2B): a first connection c1 made of conductive metal,
located on the first carrier PCB1', connected on one side to said
UHF antenna A3' and on the other side to the pin I' made of
conductive metal, the pin I' made of conductive metal, a second
connection c2 made of conductive metal, located on the second
carrier PCB2', connected on one side to the pin I' and on the other
side to the control unit M1.
The total length L.sub.TOT of the arrangement consisting of the UHF
antenna A3', of the first connection c1, of the pin I' and of the
second connection c2 is therefore equal to: L.sub.TOT=L+H1+Lc2+Lc1
where: L.sub.TOT: total length (mm) of the arrangement, H1: height
of pin I' between the first carrier PCB1' and the second carrier
PCB2' (mm), .lamda.: wavelength corresponding to ultra-high
frequency (mm), Lc1: length of the first connection c1 located on
the first carrier PCB1' between the UHF antenna A3' and the pin I'
(mm), Lc2: length of the second connection c2 located on the second
carrier PCB2' between the pin I' and the control unit M1' (mm), L:
length of the UHF antenna A3'.
According to an aspect of the invention, the total length L.sub.TOT
of said arrangement is between:
.lamda..times..lamda. ##EQU00002##
preferably where:
.times..lamda..times..lamda. ##EQU00003##
where:
.lamda.: wavelength at BLE frequency (mm).
Thus, the arrangement comprising the first connection and the
second connection c1, c2, the pin I' and the BLE UHF antenna A3',
connected to one another and made of conductive metal, constitutes
a bidirectional UHF antenna A30' of resonant length L.sub.TOT, i.e.
it operates at ultra high frequency and more particularly at the
frequency of BLE.
Preferably, an aspect of the invention proposes that the first
connection and the second connection c1, c2 be of very small
length, even of zero length, for example that the first connection
and the second connection c1, c2 consist only of vias v1, v2 made
of conductive metal, for example copper, passing through the first
printed circuit board PCB1' and the second printed circuit board
PCB2', thus the above mathematical formula can be simplified:
L.sub.TOT=L+H1 where: L.sub.TOT: total length of the bidirectional
BLE antenna A30' (mm), H1: height of pin I' between the first
carrier PCB1' and the second carrier PCB2' (mm), L: length of the
UHF antenna A3' (mm).
Of course, the first connection and the second connection may also
be in the form of an assembly comprising a via and a printed copper
wire, which are electrically conductive.
An aspect of the invention thus makes it possible, as explained
below, to considerably decrease the size needed for the integration
of the UHF antenna A3' on the first carrier PCB1'.
The UHF antenna A3' of length L is therefore extended by a pin I'
of height H1, perpendicular to the first carrier PCB1' and thus
forming a bidirectional BLE antenna A30' which emits an
electromagnetic field at the same operating frequency as said UHF
antenna A3' having two components, a first component B1
perpendicular to the first carrier PCB1' and a second component B2
which is parallel to the first carrier PCB1' (see FIG. 2b).
Specifically, since the pin I' connected to the UHF antenna A3' is
perpendicular to the first carrier PCB1', it emits an
electromagnetic field B2 perpendicular to the electromagnetic field
B1 emitted by the UHF antenna A3'. The field resulting from said
two perpendicular fields B1, B2 widens the ultra-high-frequency
communication area and improves the effectiveness of
ultra-high-frequency communication.
Ingeniously, the use of the pin I' as an extension of the UHF
antenna A3' makes it possible to decrease the length of said UHF
antenna A3' on the first carrier PCB1' while keeping a total length
L.sub.TOT of the bidirectional BLE antenna A30' optimal for
effective BLE communication.
Thus, even if the space allocated to the UHF antenna A3' on the
first carrier PCB1' is limited, by extending the UHF antenna A3'
using the pin I' it is possible to decrease the length L of the UHF
antenna A3' on the first carrier PCB1'.
In addition, since the UHF antenna A3' is located on the first
carrier PCB1', i.e. beneath the receiving surface S and not far
away from the receiving surface S, as in the prior art, the
effectiveness of UHF communication between the UHF antenna A3' and
the portable apparatus, whether placed on the charging surface S or
not, is improved with respect to the prior art.
Of course, the vias v1, v2 may also be supplemented by wired
connections c1, c2.
In a second embodiment of the device D'' according to the invention
and illustrated in FIG. 3, the NFC antenna A2'' and the UHF antenna
A3'' are connected to the control unit M1'' by a common pin made of
conductive metal and by a first via v1' and a second via v2' that
are common to the two antennas A2'', A3''.
Similarly and according to an aspect of the invention, the UHF
antenna A3'', the first via v1' located on the first carrier
PBC1'', the pin and the second via v2' located on the second
carrier PCB2'' constitute a UHF bidirectional antenna A30''.
Of course, similarly, the vias v1, v2 may also be supplemented by
wired connections c1, c2 (not shown in FIG. 3)
In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the ultra-high-frequency
antenna A3'' is located inside the perimeter delimited by the NFC
antenna A2''.
This embodiment makes it possible to save on one wired connection
J.
In this embodiment, since the two antennas, NFC A2'' and UHF A3'',
are electrically connected to each other, the control unit M1''
(see FIG. 5) further comprises first and second frequency-filtering
means F1, F2 in order to: prevent current from flowing into the
control means M2 for the NFC antenna A2'' from the control means M4
for the UHF antenna A3'', prevent current from flowing into the
control means M4 for the UHF antenna A3'' from the second control
means M2 for the NFC antenna A2''.
Thus, the two antennas, NFC A2'' and UHF A3'', may simultaneously
transmit data at their respective frequencies.
This is illustrated in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, an NFC transceiver 10 is
connected to an NFC frequency-matching circuit 20, in turn
connected to the NFC antenna A2'' by two pins I1' and I2' made of
conductive metal.
The BLE transceiver 30 is connected to a BLE-matching circuit 40,
in turn connected to said UHF antenna A3'' by one of the two pins
I1', common to the NFC antenna A2''.
The first filtering means F1 consists of an inductor L3, connected
between the control means M2 and a junction point P, connecting the
control means M4 to the pin I1'.
For example L3=47 nH.
The second filtering means F2 consists of a capacitor Cp connected
between the control means M4 and the junction point P.
For example Cp=10 pF.
In a third embodiment of the charging device D''', illustrated in
FIG. 4, the UHF antenna A3''' is integrated into the NFC antenna
A2'''. In other words, a portion of the NFC antenna A2''' is
replaced with the UHF antenna A3''' and said UHF antenna A3''' is
connected on both sides to the NFC antenna A2''' by third and
fourth frequency-filtering means F3, F4. Said third and fourth
frequency-filtering means F3, F4 consist respectively of an
inductor L1 and of an LC circuit, i.e. a circuit comprising an
inductor and a capacitor (see FIG. 6).
The third filtering means F3 consists of an inductor L1 connected
on one side to the UHF antenna A3''' and on the other side to the
control means M2 for the NFC antenna A2'''.
The fourth filtering means M4 consists of an inductor L2 connected
to a capacitor Cp, which are connected on one side to the control
means M4 via a common pin I3' and two vias v1'' and v2'', which
pass through the first carrier and the second carrier PCB1''' and
PCB2''', and on the other side to the control means M2 for the NFC
antenna A2'''.
The fourth control means M4 for the UHF antenna A3''' are connected
to said antenna by a pin I3' at a junction point P' located between
said UHF antenna A3''' and the inductor L2.
The filtering means F3, F4 prevent parasitic currents from flowing
into the control means M2 from the control means M4 and vice
versa.
For example L1=L2=47 nH.
Cp=10 pF.
Similarly and according to an aspect of the invention, the UHF
antenna A3''', the first via v1'' located on the first carrier
PCB1''', the pin I3' and the second via v2'' located on the second
carrier PCB2''' constitute a bidirectional BLE antenna A30'''.
Likewise, the filtering means F3, F4 allow the two antennas, NFC
A2''', UHF A3''', to transmit simultaneously at their respective
frequencies without interference.
This is illustrated in FIG. 6.
This third embodiment also makes it possible to leave the space
located inside the perimeter defined by the NFC antenna A3''' free
and to locate there, for example, a WPC antenna A1.
In the three embodiments described according to the invention, the
NFC antenna A2', A2'', A2''' and the UHF antenna A30', A30'',
A30''' may simultaneously transmit data at their respective
frequencies.
Of course, it is also possible to replace each filtering means F1,
F2, F3, F4 with a switch. Thus, the NFC and UHF antennas may
transmit data consecutively rather than simultaneously.
An aspect of the invention therefore ingeniously makes it possible
not only to integrate an ultra-high-frequency antenna into a
charging device already comprising a charging antenna and a
near-field-communication antenna, but also to improve the
effectiveness of ultra-high-frequency communication by placing the
UHF antenna beneath the receiving surface, which was not possible
in the prior art, and by creating a bidirectional antenna through
the use of the support pins between the two carriers of the
charging device.
An aspect of the invention is all the more judicious since the
embodiments presented allow the antennas to transmit
simultaneously, while decreasing the cost of the device, through
the use of common pins and of suitable filtering means.
* * * * *